The settling of the Jewish Question in the Ukraine has
been made more difficult because in the cities the Jews constituted a major
part of the population. What we have here is therefore – just as in the
Government-General – a massive population policy problem. Many cities had
more than 50 percent Jews. Only the rich Jews fled before the German
troops. The great majority of the Jewish masses remained under the German
Administration. The entire situation was complicated by the fact that these
Jews carried out almost all the work in the skilled trades and even
provided part of the labor for small- and medium-sized industries;
apart from trade, some of which had become superfluous as a result of the
direct or indirect effects of the war. [Their] elimination was
therefore bound to have profound economic consequences, including even
direct effects on the military economy (supplies for troops).

From the outset the attitude of the Jewish population
was anxious-willing. They tried to avoid anything that might displease the
German Administration. That they hated the German Administration and the
Army in their hearts is obvious and not surprising. However, there is no
evidence that the Jews, either as a body, or even in any considerable
numbers, have taken part in sabotage, etc. Without doubt there have been
some terrorists or saboteurs among them, just as there have been among the
Ukrainians. But it cannot be claimed that the Jews as such present any kind
of danger for the German Wehrmacht. The troops and the German
Administration have been satisfied with the work output of the Jews, who
are of course motivated by no emotion except fear.

Immediately following the military operations, the
Jewish population remained undisturbed at first. It was only weeks, in some
cases months, later that systematic shooting of the Jews was carried out by
units of the Order Police specially set up for this purpose. This Aktion
moved in the main from east to west. It was carried out entirely in public,
with the assistance of Ukrainian militia; in many cases, regrettably, also
with the voluntary participation of members of the Wehrmacht. These Aktionen
included aged men, women, and children of all ages, and the manner in which
they were carried out was appalling. The gigantic number of executions
involved in this Aktion is far greater than any similar measure
undertaken in the Soviet Union up to now. Altogether about 150,000 to
200,000 Jews may have been executed in this section of the Ukraine
belonging to the RK [Reichskommissariat]; up to now no consideration
was given to the interests of the economy.

To sum up it could be said that the solution of the
Jewish Question as carried out in the Ukraine, evidently motivated by
ideological principles, has had the following consequences:

a) Elimination of some, in part superfluous, eaters in
the cities.

b) Elimination of a part of the population which
undoubtedly hated us.

c) Elimination of urgently needed craftsmen, who were in
many cases indispensable for the requirements of the Wehrmacht.

d) Consequences in connection with foreign propaganda
that are obvious.

e) Adverse effects on troops which in any case have
indirect contact with executions.

f) Brutalizing effects on the units (Order Police) which
carry out the executions....